Integrating device.



H. Lk MERRICK.

INTEGRATING DEVICE.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented I Apr. 1 2

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H. L. MERRICK. IN TEGRATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 25,1907,

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

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H. L. MERRICK.

INTEGRATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 25,1907.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@mit/111Go o @o H. L. MERRIGK. INTEGRATING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 25,1907.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

vTo all whom 'it may concern:

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

HERBERT L. MERRICK, 0F PASSAIC, NEW JEBSEY.`

INTEGRATING, DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

' Application filed November 25, 1907. Serial No. 403,643.

Be it known that I, HERBERT L. MERmom of Passaic, New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Integrating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

In my application, Ser. No.' 352,491, iiled January 1,6, 1907, there vis shown, described and claimed, a device for integrating a quantity which is a function ofptwo other quantities, represented, specifically, in the illustrated embodiment of that invention by rate of linear conveyer belt travel and the loadon and in course of transportation by the belt. The integrating or planimeter wheel rests upon the surface of an element movin in unison with the belt and the angle lo its plane of'rotation to the line of travel of such element is under the control of a weighing beam connected to a weighing platform over i which the belt runs while the force component (in general variable due to a variable belt loading) normal to the plane of the wheel and due to the frictional effort between the wheel and the said element is utiliz'ed to movethe former axially. The extent of this axial movement serves to indicate the result of the integration, and to register the same by proper means, or in other words, in that specific embodiment, the load conveyed. The integrating wheel' is movable transversely across the belt in that invention and means are set forth for reversngthe direc-y tion of* axial movement at each extremity thereof, a counter for registering' the number ofsuch reversals being comprised in the registering, weight-indicating mechanism.y The present invention contemplates a mechanical integrator construction for render-` ingV the integrating .or axial motion of the said vintegrating wheel a continuous one in the sense of such motion being always in the same direction, thus avoiding the .necessity for reversal of motion and consequent constructivel complication and liability to the introduction of sources o'f errorl in opera.

tion as well as added cost. This result I attain by mounting ay plurality or series of integratin-g or planimeter wheels on a carrier so related to the traveling surface that the laforesaid axial movement serves to give a continuous one direction movement to the carrierpso long as the traveling friction surface is in motion? The various features of the invention are illustrated in the drawings attached' to the present specification as embodied in an automatic weigher and in these drawings Figure l is a plan view thereof,parts being broken away to show -underlying parts. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, certain parts being broken 'away and certain otherparts being in section. y Fig. 3 is mainly an end elevation, partly a cross section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged ,section showing the assembled carrier and integrating wheels, certain associated parts and also indicating'in a general way the changein relationship caused by the fluctua- .tion of the weighing beam. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pivotally mounted suporting frame. 'Fig 6 is a similar view of the housing for said frame.

Similar characters of reference designate 'corresponding parts in all figures.

The mechanical integrator constituting the subject matter of the present invention is a-ppllcable. enerally to the measurement weighing point byy a conveying be t 2 whose upper or carrying stretch is 'supported on trough-forming rollsv 3 in any desired and appropriate manner. At a convenient oint `past which Vthe belt travels (herein `esignated as theweighng point) the load on-the' belt is caused to influence a steelyard weigh- I ing beam or wei hing scale;` Such a part is generic of'one o the important features of the resent integrator and whichl as thus specifically illustrated-may be generically described as apart having a 'character of movement which is truly representative of or responsive to the variations in one of the quantlties of which the integrated resultI is a function', that isto say specifically in this instance, the load passing vthe Weighing point. L

The construction here adopted comprises a platform 4 carrying a set of trough-forming belt-supporting rolls 3' and joined by connectin rods 4 lwitha guiding frame 5 fulcrume by( a rod 5"'to the frame work 6 of the apparatus'.v Platform 4 ,is hung by side links?y lfrom one end of a steelyard or .is fulcrumed intermediate its fends by a similar device see 8" to standards 9 erected upon a supplemental frame work 10. It is evident from t-hisI construction Ithat the turnindof weighing beam 8 about its fulcrum 1s under the direct control of the loaded conveyor passing over the 'weighingF platform and in order to offset the Weight of the load onthe conveyer some suitable form of resistance is connected'to steelyard 8. The` one illustrated `comprises a combined mercury float and dash pot consisting of a hollow cylinder 11 suspended by' a link 12 from the end of beam 8 and dipping into a Vmass' of mercury in an open vessel 13 y on frame 10. This oat vso acts as to permit a constantly increasing movement of the beam from its normal or no load position for constantly increasing loads on the suspended portion of the conveyer. To prevent' 'too rapid vibration of the beam, the bottom of fioatll is closed and smallopenings 14 throttle the passage of mercury and air tending only to retardth-e action without affecting the accurate movement of the float,

i Adjustable weights l5 balance the .static load so that the system assumes itsnormal or zero position when there is no load passing the Weighing point.

Other essential features of the present integrator consist of a traveling surface whose motion is a function of the motion of the conveying belt, and a planimeter or integrating wheel to roll or rotate in contact with such surface. The rate of travel of such surface is generic of one of the functional 5 quantities of the integration, manifestly in the illustrated embodiment the rate of travel of the conveying belt. While any particular absolute ratio of travel between the conveyer and said surface is not essential, it is of course important that any change of fluctuation in the speed of the conveyer vshould be accompanied by a correspondingv change` in the speed of said surface, that is to say, the two should move in synchronism. In this instance the traveling surface consists of an endless belt 16 running overrolls 17 supported'bya housing 18 on the'supplemental frame '10; These rolls 17 are preferably -so related that they establish two substantially parallel stretches, here the two vertical-stretches, for a purpose that will presentlyappear.

'To vfulfil the before mentioned ,require` ment of synchronous movement, belt 16 'is driven from the conveyer belt, the lower stretch of the latter beltrunning under a detlcting roll 19 and over a driven roll 20, a sprocket wheel 21 on the shaft of which latter is connected i by Ichain 22 with ai sprocket wheel 23 driving through gears 24 one of thel rolls 17*w Y 4In my application hereinbefore referred to there is disclosed an integrating wheel Whose periphery bears against the surface of` a belt moving in synchronism'with the conveyer and which is shiftable from a zero position (corresponding to no load on the therein 1s free to 'rotate about its own axis while the component of frictional effort normal to the plane of rotation of the Wheel insteadof causing the belt and wheel to relatively slip results in an aXial movement of the wheel. device for reversing such axial movement when the wheel approaches each sid-e of the belt and the registering of the reversals serves to indicate the result of the integration, or the loadtransported in a given time. In the present invention the necessity of such re-V versals with any attendant source of objection is avoided by so mounting the planimeter wheel that it is brought into action, is then caused to integrate axiallyV transversly of the belt as before, and is thereupon carried to the pointvwhere it again passes onto the belt and into action continuous in the sense that it is always in the same direction. Moreover, in

order not to interfere with Ithe continuity' of the integrating action means are provided for bringing a succession of integrating wheels successively into operative position 'with relation to the belt, an integrating wheel being in an integrating posit-ion atthe time of the passage of any integratimy wheel out of such position. Such a result attain by mounting a series vof integrating wheels on a carrier in such a relation that in the Zero, or non-integrating (no load) position, the inte rating wheelv in contact with the friction elt`me`rely rotates on-its axis and thereis no force component normal Ito the plane of rotation ofthe wheel. v Them-however, an'angular relation is brought about under theV influence of thefpart here repre'- sented by the loaded weighin beam, a force component is established w ichy tends to Aturn the aforesaid carrier.

As here constructed the carrier is a rotary disk 25 Whose shaft 26 is mounted in a` frame 27 Whichv diametrally encircles the disk and is slotted at 28 for the passage of the two stretches of belt 16. Frame 27 is pivotally mounted in a housin 27T, se pivot pins 29, to turn about an axlswhicli` intersects,

Y atleast.approximately, the axis 'of rotation vof the disk and is perpendicular thereto. An arm-like extension ,30 of frame 2"( is Provision is further made in that hungfrom beam l8 by a suspension link 31.v

The construction is thus such'that frame 2'? may swing in a plane arallel to the surface lanes of the aforesai parallel stretches of elt 16. 4 p I Around the periphery of disk 25 is disposed a series of rolls 32 all independently rotatable about an axis extendingcircumferentiallyof the disk and the planebf which is perpendicular to the; rotative axis of the disk. Each of the rolls 32 constitutes an integrating wheel, the particular roll in contact with the moving belt 16 merely ro-1I tating about its axis in the no load position of the apparatus without any tendency existing to rotate disk 25. When, however, through 'the movement of the weighing beam, the angular relation is changed, the force component perpendicular to theplane of-rotation of each integrating wheel 32 and tangential to disk 25 produces an angular motion of the latter and a bodily motion 'of the wheel across the surface of the belt, the following wheels successively coming into action in orderly procession. The rotation of disk 25 is thus continuous as long asv a load is .being transported by the conveyer. I prefer 'to have the wheels at diainetrally opposite sides of l'the disk contact with the two parallel oppositely movin stretches of.

l belt 1Q in order to decrease si e thrust and accentuate the tendency to rotate the Idisk uniforml and to minimie' the tendency of the frictional resistance to rotation of the disk to cause slipping; belt y16 is therefore caused to" press against the wheels at opposite sides ofthe disk with the desired and appropriate pressure. wheel 32 is also preferably somewhat tapertoward each end so that the outline of a t he wheels coincide with the eircumscribing circumference of the assembled disk and wheels in plan view.

Assumin angular ve ocity of dis 25 will manifestly increase with an increased load passing the weighing point (orv increas `-in value o one of the functional u antities The rot-ations of t e disk and hence the result olf-integration (weight conveyed) may be indicated by an instrument in the nature of acounter 33 actuated by apin 34 carried by the disk. yIf it is desired, moreover, that the result of integration (weight conveyed) between thel times of successive actuations of the counter shouldy be ascertainable, a properly juxtaposed scale 35 and pointer may be provided.

Obviously anti-friction bea-rings may be used wherever they are found practicable and .it is ldesirable to decrease the frictional resistance. with consequent increase of .sensitiveness. A

In one sense, carrier or disk 25 may be regarded as an integrating or planimeter wheel while rolls 32 constitute anti-friction devices on its periphery for eliminating slip- Each integrating a'given s eed of belt 16, the

and vice versa.-

ping between the disk and the belt and hence in using the term carrier without the nielchanical-qualication of a 'peripheral roll mounting I mean thereby an integrating wheel bearing directly on the moving surface and not thereon t rough the medium of interposed rolls.

Having, described my claim I l. An integrating device-comprising, in

Ycombination', a carrier provided with integrating wheels, a traveling element whose. 1 'surface is 'adapted /to frictionally actuate 'said wheels in succession; the plane of movement of the carrier being. normal to the line of travel `of said surface when the magnitude of one of the functional quant-ities is invention, I y

zero, and means for varying the angle between said. line of travel and said plane with changes in the value of said functional quantity.

2. An integrating 'device comprising, in combination, a rota-ry carrier.provided with integratin wheels, a traveling element whose sur ace is `ada ted to frictionally ro"- tate said wheels an thereby said carrier, said carrier havinga zero position in'which its plane of rotation is normal to the line of travelI of the belt, means vfor varying the angle between said-line of travel and said plane with varying values of one of the functional quantities, and means for registering the rotations of said carrier.

3. An integrating device comprising, in combination, a'rotary carrier provided with integrating wheels, a traveling belt having oppositely moving parts or stretches each a apted to frictionally rotate said wheels, and means for varying the angle between the line of travel Pof said belt and the plane of rotationof the carrier.

tion of a traveling element, a rotary carrier ioo provided with integrating'wheels which are ada ted to be frictionally actuated by the sur ace of said element and -whose axis is mounted to swing in a plane parallel to the line of travel of said element from a zero position in which the plane of rotation of the carrier is normal to the line of travel of` the element,y and means responsive to changes in one of the functional quantities connected with said carrier for swinging the same as aforesaid.

5. In an integratin device, the combination of a traveling e ement whose rate of travel is adapted to vary as specified and having a frictional surface, a rotary carrier,

lan integrating wheel thereon in frictional carrier for swinging the same as aforesaid, and means for registering the rotations of said carrier.

6. In an integrating device, the combina` tion of a traveling element whose rate of travel is adapted to vary as specied and having a friction surface, a rotary carrier, a series of integrating wheels on the carrier adapted to successively .frictionally engage with Said friction surface, means embodying a mountingfor said carrier adapting the carrier to turn in a plane parallel to said vfriction surface of said element, and mechanism for registering the rotation of the carrier. n y.

7. Inan.- integrating device, the combination of a traveling belt whose rate of travel is adapted to vary as speciiedfandfhaving two substantially parallel oppositely moving lengths, a rotary carrier, a series of integrating wheels on the carrier, said wheel-carryingcarrier being located between and the wheels thereon being in frictional engagement with said parallel oppositely-moving `parts of said traveling belt, means embodying a mounting for said'carrier adapting the same to turn in a plane parallel to the friction surfaces of said belt lengths, and mechanism for registering the rotations of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed lmy name to the specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT `L. MERRICK.

`Witnesses:

PmnsoN L. WELLS, HENRY LEVISo 

